How can India qualify for Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 semifinals after 58-run loss to New Zealand?
The Indian women's team have been forced to consider all possibilities and avenues for a place in the knockout stages after their first match itself. A heavy 58-run defeat to New Zealand in the Group A clash at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday, October 4, has hampered India's hopes of qualification.
The margin of the defeat puts the Women in Blue at the bottom of the points table with an abysmal net run rate of -2.900. Harmanpreet Kaur and company will have to do a lot of things right and rely on others if they wish to progress into the semi-finals.
Placed along with Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, and New Zealand in the group of death, India still have three matches to make amends. Winning their remaining matches with a healthy margin might be enough for India to finish in the top two, but other possibilities also need to be accounted for.
India have a realistic shot against their Asian rivals Pakistan and Sri Lanka, to get to four points. If they win those matches by a heavy margin and lose to heavyweights and favorites Australia, they will finish with four points. If such a scenario arises, then India will have to hope that either Australia or New Zealand lose two of their matches in the group stage.
The Alyssa Healy-led side aiming for their fourth title in a row are unlikely to lose two group games. As a result, India's best hope (provided that they themselves win two of their remaining matches) is for New Zealand to lose to Australia, and hope that one of Sri Lanka or Pakistan can defeat them as well.
Should such a situation arise, then the second spot will come down to the net run-rate. New Zealand have a massive head start as far as net run-rate is concerned. But, if they lose by a heavy margin in the group stage, and India manages to amend their figure through their remaining matches, then the Women in Blue have a chance to snake through.
India set to face Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the coming days
India have an opportunity to turn things around quickly with their next match against Pakistan scheduled for Sunday, October 6. They will then face Sri Lanka in a repeat of the 2024 Asia Cup final on October 9. Their final group-stage clash against Australia will take place on October 13 in Sharjah.
The last time India missed out on the semi-finals of the competition was during the 2016 edition on home soil.